Buddhists' religious and health practices.

Area of Science:

• Religion and Health
• Buddhist Studies
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Buddhist practices, such as meditation, are increasingly studied for their health implications.
• Understanding the relationship between Buddhist beliefs, practices, and health is crucial for holistic well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Buddhist religious practices, beliefs, and self-reported health status.
• To explore the correlation between Buddhist devoutness and health behaviors like smoking and overall health ratings.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to 886 Buddhist respondents, primarily residents of the USA.
• Data collected included religious practices (meditation, retreats), duration of Buddhist practice, and self-rated health history.
• A Buddhist Devoutness Index was created and analyzed against health outcomes.

Main Results:

• Ninety-nine percent of respondents practiced Buddhist meditation, and 70% had attended intensive meditation retreats.
• A significant positive association was found between the Buddhist Devoutness Index and non-smoking status (15% increased odds per point).
• Higher devoutness was also linked to better health, with an 11% increase in the odds of reporting good to excellent health per point.

Conclusions:

• Buddhist practices, particularly meditation and devoutness, are associated with positive health behaviors and outcomes.
• The findings suggest that Buddhist principles and practices may contribute to improved physical health and reduced risk factors.
• Further research into the mechanisms linking Buddhist devoutness to health is warranted.